Mmangisa pleads not guilty to 2 criminal charges

Chief Executive Officer for Lilongwe City Council Kelvin Mmangisa on Friday appeared before the Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate’s Court in the capital, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of public office.

Mmangisa is accused of drawing allowances for a trip to Italy which he never undertook and collecting allowances outside his contract.

“Not guilty,” said Mmangisa as chief resident magistrate Ruth Chinangwa finished reading the first charge of abuse of public office contrary to Section 95 (1) of the Penal Code.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment with hard labour.

He is also accused of illegally pocketing K23 million as part of his salary perks.

Mmangisa: In the dock

Mmangisa, who worked under a contract signed with the ministry of Local Government, has also been charged because he claimed an extra payment of K660, 000 per month apart from his official monthly salary of K625, 000.

From this sum, K252, 000 was for fuel, K100, 000 as house allowance and other claims for telephone, a cook and a gardener.

Lead prosecutor, police officer-in-charge for prosecution Happy Mkandawire, asked the court for adjournment to complete a dossier of evidence and give defence ample time to study the evidence.

He informed the court that the state will parade eight witnesses.

Mmangisa is being represented by lawyers Ian Malera and Donavan Silungwe.